Trolley-harp.



PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

H. MANGOLD.

TROLLEY HARP.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 10, 1905.

jmnwam 1g an 50/? UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

TROLLEY -HARP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed November 10, 1905- Serial No. 286,736.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN h/IANGOLD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Carnot, Moon township, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Harps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trolley-harps; and the primary object of this invention is the provision of positive and reliable means for retaining a wheel journaled in said harp upon a trolley-wire or an electrical conduit.

The invention aims to provide a harp similar to the ordinary type of harp carried by trolley-poles of electrically-operated cars, and in connection with the trolley-harp I employ available and adjustable means for retaining a wheel journaled in said harp in engagement with a wire with which it is adapted to contact.

In constructing my improved harp I have considered the possibility of interference by wire-hangers, crossings, and such overhead work that may tend to break and interfere with the positive operation of my improved mechanism. Therefore I have constructed the mechanism whereby it may recede without breaking or injuring the overhead constructi on which supports a trolley-wire.

The invention tends to dispense with the watchfulness necessitated by trolley wheels and harps at present used, thereby dispensing with considerable trouble heretofore experienced.

I/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and referring to the drawings accompanying this application like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation oi a harp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fi 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the adjustable wheel-supporting arms of the harp, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation 01 the same.

To put my invention into practice I employ a harp 1, consisting of a socket portion 2 and arms 3 3. This harp is similar to the conventional form of harp at present used, with the exception that the arms 3 3 are farther separated to accommodate my improved mechanism. The socket 2 of .the harp is adapted to fit upon the upper end of a conventional from of trolley-pole 4. The upper ends of the arms 3 3 are provided with horizontally-alining openings 5, in which is mounted a pin 6, said pin being secured in said openings by keys or pins 7 7. J ournaled centrally upon the pin 6 is a conventional form of trolley-wheel 8, adapted to contact with a trolley-wire or electrical conduit 9. My invention resides in mounting upon the pin 6 of the harp 1 two wheel-supporting arms 10 10. An arm is mounted upon each side of the trolley-wheel 8 within the harp 1, and each arm consists 01 a cylindrical portion 11 and a vertical tubular portion 12. The pin 6 is adapted to extend through horizontally-alining openings 14 14, formed in the cylindrical portion 11 of the arm, and that portion of the pin 6 directly beneath the vertical tubular portion 12 of the arm is provided with a vertically-disposed opening 15, through which extends a rod 16, that passes upwardly through the vertical tubular portion 12 of said arm. The ends of the openings 15 are enlarged, as shown at 15 in Figs. 3 and 4, to permit a limited tilting movement of the rods 16 and arms 12 upon the pin 6. The rod 16 of each arm extends downwardly through an opening 17 formed in the bottom of the cylindrical portion 11 of each arm, and the lower end of each rod is bent inwardly, as at 18 18, and then connected to gether, as at 19, by a link 20. A cable or rope 21 is connected to said link, and this cable or rope is adapted to be manipulated by the conductor or operator of a car when the trolley-wheel 8 is to be removed from the trolley-wire or said wheel is to be replaced upon said wire.

As trolley-poles are carried at an inclination to a car, I provide the harp 1 with a strap 22, said strap clamping the harp, as at 23, and havin a bifurcated end 24. In the bifurcated end of the strap is journaled a roller 25, while the harp proper directly beneath the strap is provided with another pulley 26. The cable or rope 21 is adapted to pass over said pulleys, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereby when the cable or rope is operated by the conductor of a car a direct pull may be eX- erted upon the vertically-disposed rods 16 16, mounted in the wheel-supporting arms 10.

In the cylindrical portions 11 of the arms 10 10 are mounted coiled springs 27, which surround the pins 6. The one end of each spring is secured, at at 28, to the cylindrical portion 11 of each arm, while the opposite end of thespring is secured to the pin 6, as at 2.9. The springs 27 are employed for retaining the wheel-supporting arms 10 10 in a vertical position, at the same time permitting them to swing upon the pin 6 in case they should strike an overhead obstruction. Hinged, as at 30 30, to the upper ends of the rods 16 16 of the wheel-supporting arms 10 are short rods 31 31, said rods being provided with angularly-disposed journal-pins 32 32, upon which are journaled wheels 33 33. To retain the rods 31 31 in alinement with the rods 16 16, springs 34 34 are employed.

To normally hold the rods 16 16 in proper relation to the trolley-wheel 8 and the wire 9, coiled springs 35 surround said rods within the tubular portion 12 of each arm, the one end of the springs being secured to said rod, as at 36, while the opposite ends of said springs rest upon the pin 6.

The normal position of the trolley-har together with its appurtenant parts, is s own in Figs. 1 and 2 o the drawings, where it will be observed that the wheels 33 33 are disposed at an angle to one another and that a portion of the periphery of each wheel overlies the trolley-wheel 8 and the trolley-wheel 9, the peripheries of said wheels being in close proximity to one another. In operation, should the wheels 33 33 encounter a protuberance upon the wire 9 or an overhead obstruction the wheels 33 can adjust themselves to such obstruction, this being accomplished through the medium of the hinged head 31 and the springs 27 and 35 When it is desired to remove the wheel 8 from the trolleywire 9, it is only necessary to pull down upon the trolley cable or rope 21, such movement pressing the spring 35 and lowering the rods 16 16, and as the wheels 33 contact with the peripheral edges of the trolley-wheel 8 said wheels will be forced outwardly, allowing the trolley-wheel 8 to pass out of engagement with the wire 9.

I do not care to confine myself to the detail construction of myimproved harp, as such changes in the proportion, size, and minor details of the harp as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a harp, a pin fixed in said harp, a trolleywheel journaled upon said pin, wheel-supporting arms mounted u on each side of said wheel, spring-controlle rods mounted in said arms andhaving their lower ends connected together, a cable or rod connected to said arms, rods hinged to the upper ends of said spring-controlled rods, angularly-disposed wheels journaled upon said hinged rods and adapted to overlie said trolley-wheel.

2. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a harp carried by said pole, a trolley-wheel journaled in said harp, wheel-supporting arms mounted in said harp, rods extending through said arms, angularly-disposed wheels journaled upon the upper ends of said rods and adapted to overlie said trolley-wheel, and means for moving said rods longitudi nally.

3. The combination with a trolley-pole, a harp and a trolley-wheel, of wheel-supporting arms mounted in said harp, spring-controlled rods carried by said arms, rods hinged to said spring-controlled rod, angularly-disposed wheels journaled upon said hinged rods and adapted to overlie said trolley-wheel, and means for moving all of said rods longitudinally.

4. The combination with a trolley pole and harp, of a pin mounted in said harp, a trolley-wheel journaled upon said pin, rods passing through said pin, supporting-arms for said rods mounted upon said pin, wheels carried by said rods and ada ted to overlie the trolley-wheel, and means or moving said rods longitudinally.

5. The combination with a trolley pole and a harp, of a pin mounted in said harp, a trolley-wheel j ournaled upon said pin, a spring-controlled rod extending through said pin at either side of the trolley-wheel, supporting-arms for said rods loosely mounted upon said pin, angularly-disposed wheels carried by said rods, and springs for controlling the movement of said arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMANN MANGOLD. Witnesses:

C. KLOSTERMANN, JAs. V. MCMASTER. 

